Dr. Bash

[JohnM]

We have sent the form in for Dr. Bash to help us with my brothers claim. Does anyone know how long it takes for him to reply and how much it will cost? Thanks for advise in advance.

Dianne

[Berta]

It is hard to determine- how long and how much Dianne-

he usually tries to respond right away-

I heard from him within a day or 2 of emailing him -he called me and we discussed what evidence I had and it took him less than a week to prepare my initial IMO-

he didnt need the SMRs so that saved time and also I had tabbed the medical records as to where the evidence was that I listed on a cover letter.(Labs reports, MRI, ECHO etc.)

I did have other documents that he needed -past FTCA and Section 1151 stuff and SOC, SSOCs from the VA for past claims and the present claim I have.

Also I had additional medical evidence that he did not incorporate into his IMO but that I had submitted to the RO myself.

My second IMO I needed from him was to knock down a VA medical opinion (the VA has never even opined on his IMOS)

and he did this while he was on vacation in California and it took only a week.

It depends on many factors- how long it will take him to access the records( I suggest tabbing the main records) but he reads everything you send him-

and also how involved the opinion might be.

He bases his fees on all that too.

Edited July 8, 2008 by Berta (see edit history)

[saltydawg]

IT WAS ABOUT 3 WEEKS FOE MINE,I ASK FOR AN INCREAS ON ONE S/C,NOD ON 4 DENIEALS.COST 2000.00...I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS WORTH IT BUT MY SERVICE WIGTHER SAID IT LOOKED GOOD TO HIM.SO I MAY HAVE GOT MY MONEYS WORTH.TIME WILL TELL.

[timintenn]

anybody got some contact info for DR. Bash--please send to me----------thanks

[Berta]

http://www.veteransmedadvisor.com/consult.html

Contact info for Dr. Bash

[Quint7]

WOW!

I have been waiting 3 months since he received my info and cashed my check for a back and knee problem.

I got an email a month ago telling me that my report would be ready in 2 or 3 days, then a phone call 2 weeks later saying that thye were just finishing the report and I emailed Monday to politely ask what the deal was. No reply yet.

All of this was for a DRO hearing for an appeal and the 90 days I asked for are closing in quick.

Dr. Bash himself told me thatthe fee was $1500.00 and that normally it would be $3000.00 for that service.

I sent everything, SMR, CFile, etc, all broken down and tabbed as Berta suggested.

I am just sitting and waiting I guess.

[vmo]

I used Dr. Bash---he did take alot longer to supply his IMO-independent medical opinion then advertised. I used the IMO some two years ago, paying him $1000. However, the IME-independent medical exams I obtained were (I feel) as much, maybe more beneficial. I used three neurologists, three orthopedic physicians, and a physiatrist. (Most of which was paid by private medical insurance, fortunately). What Dr. Bash did was evaluate the "medical evidence". Dr. Bash is good. However, if possible, submit evidence from more than one medical specialty. Also, you will find the VARO try to downplay Dr. Bash's "IMO" as he did not actually exam you. Hogwash--the rebuttal is the IMO is still viable supportive "medical evidence". Good luck!!

[john999]

If a thousand dollars gets you SC or a significant increase then that is money well spent.

[halos2]

So can you say how favorable your claim results were by using Dr.Bash's IMO along with the rest?

I used Dr. Bash---he did take alot longer to supply his IMO-independent medical opinion then advertised. I used the IMO some two years ago, paying him $1000. However, the IME-independent medical exams I obtained were (I feel) as much, maybe more beneficial. I used three neurologists, three orthopedic physicians, and a physiatrist. (Most of which was paid by private medical insurance, fortunately). What Dr. Bash did was evaluate the "medical evidence". Dr. Bash is good. However, if possible, submit evidence from more than one medical specialty. Also, you will find the VARO try to downplay Dr. Bash's "IMO" as he did not actually exam you. Hogwash--the rebuttal is the IMO is still viable supportive "medical evidence". Good luck!!

[Teac]

We have sent the form in for Dr. Bash to help us with my brothers claim. Does anyone know how long it takes for him to reply and how much it will cost? Thanks for advise in advance.

Dianne

I contacted him for a problem in 2004, two or three times, he never responded. Then I went to a military hospital and request IMO from civillian doctors that worked for uncle sam.. I ended up with three seperate independant medical opinions all favorable, here it is 2008 and the claim still hasn't been decided.

I am not saying Bash is good or not, I don't know... but knowing what I know now I would never pay for an opinion.

[vmo]

*Clarification: Dr. Bash's IMO was "good" not great. Would I use him again--probably not. Also, when he quoted his fee to me--I negotiated it down quite a bit. Then he requested more if my claim was increased--when he sent the "late" IMO to me. Sorry---I got an increase, he did not. I am more fortunate than most as I have two major medical plans in addition to VA Medical Centers. I obtained as many private IMO-IME statements as I could. *When I received IMO-IME that was detrimental (not supportive) I tossed it. Be careful what you fire at the VA, cause sometimes they shoot back. I think the most beneficial statement I obtained was from the "physiatrist" (not psychiatrist) who specializes in physical medicine/rehabilitation, as my claim involved spine, knees, & neurology. New conditions were granted service connected. However, I was satisfied with BVA decision, but not the VA rating percentage from VARO. So---here we go again.

[allan]

Also keep in mind, that no matter how specialized the IMO Dr is or how many are sent in, the VA only needs one of their contracted nurse practioners to comment and deny.

They are allowed to ignor "any" IMO you obtain from any specialist and seek one that suits them.

[halos2]

Allan

OMG how right you are. I had the worst Nurse practioner do my C&P...she was 3 hrs late let me believe she was a DR as I called her Dr she lied and lied on C&P exam, called her 2x on the phone when I got my copy of exam report from medical records and she swore she didn't write what was on report...she said they must have mixed up reports yet did nothing to correct it.

So I went to Patient advocate and found out this NP was removed from doing any C&P's ever because of complaints and untruth info. but still with 2 IMO's VA believe her lies

Told VA in hearing about her lies and misrepresentation of not being a doctor, gave them her name and nurse's license number too yet none of this was on my transcript and they denied my claim related to her determination.....Going to BVA

:P

Also keep in mind, that no matter how specialized the IMO Dr is or how many are sent in, the VA only needs one of their contracted nurse practioners to comment and deny.

They are allowed to ignor "any" IMO you obtain from any specialist and seek one that suits them.

[halos2]

Allan,

Remember in each graduation class their is the smartest one(validictorian) and the last one to graduate marginally.

Too bad the VA pick the last one accademically in that class to eval the exams. ;)

Allan

OMG how right you are. I had the worst Nurse practioner do my C&P...she was 3 hrs late let me believe she was a DR as I called her Dr she lied and lied on C&P exam, called her 2x on the phone when I got my copy of exam report from medical records and she swore she didn't write what was on report...she said they must have mixed up reports yet did nothing to correct it.

So I went to Patient advocate and found out this NP was removed from doing any C&P's ever because of complaints and untruth info. but still with 2 IMO's VA believe her lies

Told VA in hearing about her lies and misrepresentation of not being a doctor, gave them her name and nurse's license number too yet none of this was on my transcript and they denied my claim related to her determination.....Going to BVA

:P

[allan]

halos,

[so I went to Patient advocate and found out this NP was removed from doing any C&P's ever because of complaints and untruth info. but still with 2 IMO's VA believe her lies]

They believe her lies because they asked her to provide them. This is how it works. Maybe not for everyone, but for many of us this is the fraudulant treatment we recieve.

They don't have to graduate with honors in order to lie on paper & cheat a vet out of their benefits.

It helps to hire someone that believes you don't deserve a damn thing for your service to this country and willing to provide any statement the VA needs to support it. The VA laws state they need to be trained to provide the the opinion/exam. I've never read they have to know much about medicine. Just that they have to be trained to give the VA what they want.

You can scream all you want about how unfair it is, but "NO ONE" will hear it at the VA.

If you can not get an IMO that rebuts the BS the examiner stated, your SOL.

Another thing. If you've appealed to the BVA. Expect them to remand it right back to the same RO or another band of bandits like St Petes.

Once there, it will be sent to yet another paid consultant that will likely render anything the VA wants them to send back. More than likely it will look just like the NP's opinion. They often rubber stamp the last unfavorable opinion while ignoring any favorable ones.

I've had this done to me for more than a decade.

You must obtain an IME or IMO outside of the DVA system that supports your claim in order to fight this.

Edited July 10, 2008 by allan (see edit history)

[halos2]

Allan, My IMO's were done by private Dr's. One I have been seeing since the early 70's and hie dad the year before and the other since the mid 80's.

Will need to go back over their SOC denial and rebute what they say. Too bad we have such a xxxxxxxsystem.

Our land and country is a land of divisions especially with the differences of the mighty VA but we have the unity amongsts us.

Let us stay together and shape our destiny.

I should have applied for benefits when I went to the VA 85-88, oh well learning educational process.

Thanks. :P

halos,

[so I went to Patient advocate and found out this NP was removed from doing any C&P's ever because of complaints and untruth info. but still with 2 IMO's VA believe her lies]

They believe her lies because they asked her to provide them. This is how it works. Maybe not for everyone, but for many of us this is the fraudulant treatment we recieve.

They don't have to graduate with honors in order to lie on paper & cheat a vet out of their benefits.

It helps to hire someone that believes you don't deserve a damn thing for your service to this country and willing to provide any statement the VA needs to support it. The VA laws state they need to be trained to provide the the opinion/exam. I've never read they have to know much about medicine. Just that they have to be trained to give the VA what they want.

You can scream all you want about how unfair it is, but "NO ONE" will hear it at the VA.

If you can not get an IMO that rebuts the BS the examiner stated, your SOL.

Another thing. If you've appealed to the BVA. Expect them to remand it right back to the same RO or another band of bandits like St Petes.

Once there, it will be sent to yet another paid consultant that will likely render anything the VA wants them to send back. More than likely it will look just like the NP's opinion. They often rubber stamp the last unfavorable opinion while ignoring any favorable ones.

I've had this done to me for more than a decade.

You must obtain an IME or IMO outside of the DVA system that supports your claim in order to fight this.

[allan]

we have the unity amongsts us?

Unity? Where?

[halos2]

With all of us vets trying to help eachother that's where. HERE.

we have the unity amongsts us?

Unity? Where?

[Quint7]

I just got my IMO from Dr. Bash today and IREALLY HOPE that the 5 pages add up to something.........

From what I can read, Dr. Bash took my notes and added them to his readings of an MRI and XRay I sent him.

He also sent it in a regular envelope along with a small handwritten note that said another Dr. was concerned and tht that Doc added a letter saying that he agreed with Dr. bash and that I should send another $500.00 for using that letter..... at least that is what I can read it to say.

Also I DID NOT get my MRI or XRay films back and if I don't, I'm totally screwed. I included a reutrn receipt for them and both are originals with no copies.

AND I got a letter today telling me that my DRO hearing is scheduled for the one damn week that I am going to the west coast for a vacation........

I am SO friggin livid right now that I am pretty sure that I sold a motorcycle for nothing to pay for this and no who knows how long I will have to wait for them to reschedule my DRO hearing.

This blows............

[Pete53]

Sorry Quint that you are angry. Why not contact Dr Bash and see if you can get originals returned.

Good Luck

[rodsp]

Quint7...I went to Dr Bash's website and read his rules for new patients and it says something like to send copies not originals because when he is done a reputable shredding company shreds them. I hope that is not the case for you. Call Him...